One practice I have been doing for many years is to return attention to my breath as often as I can until I can maintain some awareness of it constantly. Really helps develop some equanimity!

I started off my remembering to bring attention to the breath every time I was waiting for something. Then when I was changing from one activity to another. Then try to recall it even briefly every hour. Every half an hour. Etc.

Dan74 wrote:One practice I have been doing for many years is to return attention to my breath as often as I can until I can maintain some awareness of it constantly. Really helps develop some equanimity!

I started off my remembering to bring attention to the breath every time I was waiting for something. Then when I was changing from one activity to another. Then try to recall it even briefly every hour. Every half an hour. Etc.

But when I try to return attention to my breath as often as I can ,such thoughts appear to me: "I am mindful","I am trying to be mindful by returning my attention to my breath","I am not mindful by thinking of these thoughts".

Well, that's what happens in meditation often as well. No biggie! Just note and return to the breath. Eventually the mind will get tired of the same old pattern and will settle on the breath (in meditation). In daily life when it's only for a short time in the midst of other things, it can be very interesting to observe the rhythm and the depth of breathing and note the correspondence to emotional states. Above all, no point worrying or stressing about it.

Dan74 wrote:Well, that's what happens in meditation often as well. No biggie! Just note and return to the breath. Eventually the mind will get tired of the same old pattern and will settle on the breath (in meditation). In daily life when it's only for a short time in the midst of other things, it can be very interesting to observe the rhythm and the depth of breathing and note the correspondence to emotional states. Above all, no point worrying or stressing about it.

OkSo are we are going to get better and better as time goes on until we reach some level of ......something?lol

Sam Vega wrote:My advice would be to carry on doing exactly what you are doing, but keep the precepts while doing it.

At first,I thought this would be easy,but man I <3 music and stuffs like that lol.

befriend wrote:look for good deeds to do and rejoice in there wholesomeness. playing with my dog because he is a being that i can make happy.

Dan74 wrote:Well, that's what happens in meditation often as well. No biggie! Just note and return to the breath. Eventually the mind will get tired of the same old pattern and will settle on the breath (in meditation). In daily life when it's only for a short time in the midst of other things, it can be very interesting to observe the rhythm and the depth of breathing and note the correspondence to emotional states. Above all, no point worrying or stressing about it.

OkSo are we are going to get better and better as time goes on until we reach some level of ......something?lol

Sam Vega wrote:My advice would be to carry on doing exactly what you are doing, but keep the precepts while doing it.

At first,I thought this would be easy,but man I <3 music and stuffs like that lol.

befriend wrote:look for good deeds to do and rejoice in there wholesomeness. playing with my dog because he is a being that i can make happy.

Seems quite simple and universal but I get what you mean.

I think he meant the 5 precepts youth thunder, you can still enjoy music and other stuff

"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."

Dan74 wrote:Well, that's what happens in meditation often as well. No biggie! Just note and return to the breath. Eventually the mind will get tired of the same old pattern and will settle on the breath (in meditation). In daily life when it's only for a short time in the midst of other things, it can be very interesting to observe the rhythm and the depth of breathing and note the correspondence to emotional states. Above all, no point worrying or stressing about it.

OkSo are we are going to get better and better as time goes on until we reach some level of ......something?lol

Sam Vega wrote:My advice would be to carry on doing exactly what you are doing, but keep the precepts while doing it.

At first,I thought this would be easy,but man I <3 music and stuffs like that lol.

befriend wrote:look for good deeds to do and rejoice in there wholesomeness. playing with my dog because he is a being that i can make happy.

Seems quite simple and universal but I get what you mean.

I think he meant the 5 precepts youth thunder, you can still enjoy music and other stuff

YouthThunder wrote:Basically how do you practise buddhism on a daily basis? (especially for beginners?)

With metta.

There is nothing mysterious or complicated about practicing the Buddha's teachings. In fact the whole path of practice can be summarized in one sentence:

"Do good, refrain from doing evil, and purify the mind - this is the teaching of all the Buddhas." - Dhp 183

The heart of the path is SO simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice. Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. Of course, there are dozens of meditation techniques to develop samadhi and many kinds of vipassana. But it all comes back to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. - Ajahn Chah

"Do good, refrain from doing evil, and purify the mind - this is the teaching of all the Buddhas." - Dhp 183

I like that one, too. Expanding on it just a little bit:Do good - treating other people as you would wish them to treat you is a good start.Refrain from doing evil - the five precepts are a good start.Purify the mind - first observe the mind to see what's going on in there, and then start throwing out the rubbish

YouthThunder wrote:Basically how do you practise buddhism on a daily basis? (especially for beginners?)

With metta.

Well I became a Buddhist at the start of this year.

I have this time i set twice a day.Mornign and night time.

I usually do some Recollections.Contemplate and write in my journal about my life.Study The Dhamma..or Buddhist teachings...usually i just download it from the internet.Then meditate.Just Anapanasati and Metta.I don't want to do Vipasanna yet because i'm new and would like to train my mind to be calm first.Then i make a list of good things i have to do and dedicate the good merit to the enlightment of all sentient beings.

YouthThunder wrote:Basically how do you practise buddhism on a daily basis? (especially for beginners?)

In my mind, it's the same answer whether you're a beginner or a non-returner...

The Noble Eightfold Path, as best as you can follow it.

Metta,Retro.

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

discover your flaws, and focus on improving them with recollectionsdevelop a philosophy that is in tune with reality but make sure you feel it in your heart for example, understand all beings are deluded why would them acting deluded make you angry and hatefuldont be lazy laziness is easy but leads to suffering like ajahn chah says whatever your ego mind wants to do, do the oppositemake a schedule this will discipline the mind and surprisingly make it more free

to practice patience with others rough speech, perceive there words as only sound, patience is the path to nibbana.

Follow the 5 precepts to your best ability (right speech is taking me longest to develop, sometimes i'll slip and say a harsh word or gossip)Try to maintain a consistent meditation practice (once or twice a day)Try to be as mindful as possible throughout the day (in all postures)Give best attempt to develop wholesome thingsGive best attempt to refrain from unwholesome thingsTry to be as compassionate as possible to all beingsTry to use all situations to practice equanimity.Try to be a positive force in the lives of those around you. (try to be as altruistic as possible: hold doors, make time to help others, let people borrow my stuff, etc...)

This is essentially my "daily practice". Although I've only been practicing since November of last year, these things are finally starting to feel "natural", which is a great feeling